World XI to tour Pakistan in September

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Najam Sethi confirmed on Saturday that the World XI team is coming to Pakistan in September to play a three-match T20 series in Lahore.

Sethi, addressing a press conference, said, “Players from England, New Zealand, West Indies, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Afghanistan and Zimbabwe have agreed to play the World XI tournament in Pakistan. India, however, has declined to send its players.”

Former Zimbabwe captain Andy Flower, who will coach the World XI, has been assigned to select the squad for the tour, which is financially supported by the International Cricket Council (ICC).

“A security team from ICC will visit Pakistan at the end of this month to view our security plans,” Sethi said, adding that the Punjab government has given the PCB a green signal for the implementation of the plan.

Pakistan vs World XI T20 Match Schedule

Sethi added that all the matches would take place in Lahore, “even though it is my wish that we conduct some matches in Karachi.”

“Unfortunately, wherever I go, they tell me they are willing to send their players to Lahore as we successfully conducted the Pakistan Super League (PSL) final here. However, they [do] say that if we are able to conduct some PSL matches in Karachi next time, they will reconsider that option too,” the PCB chief explained.

“At the moment, we will focus on what we have right now and conduct the tournament in Lahore.”

Discussing the return of international cricket to Pakistan, Sethi said: “Sri Lanka has agreed to visit Pakistan if we are able to conduct the World XI tour successfully.”

“Cricket West Indies and PCB are in talks that will see the Windies visiting Pakistan for a three-match T20 series in Lahore in November,” Sethi said, adding that the tour will be “subject to the safe conclusion of the World XI series.”

The ICC board had agreed to support a three-game Twenty20 series between Pakistan and a World XI side in a bid to help revive international cricket in the country.

Pakistan cricket team’s Head Coach Mickey Arthur has shown great interest in the series and hopes that the tour of the World XI will bring Pakistan a step closer to reviving international cricket.